Jul 31, 2008 7:55 pm US/Pacific
Goldstein: A Proper Resting Place For Soldiers
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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The Missing In America Project tries to identify the cremains of fallen soldiers and to give them a proper resting place.
CBS
A military funeral.
Recognition of service to our country.
It's an honor that nine veterans will now receive.
"These vets have given so much to our country. And then these men donated their bodies to science and they deserve to be honored."
All of the vets donated their bodies to science. For two years they're used by medical students here at Western University. Then the bodies are cremated and every effort is made to find the next of kin.
"This is where the cremains are stored."
The ashes have beeen sitting in this closet -- some for more than ten years.
"These have been here because their families can't be contacted. Can't find them. I call them -- the phones are disconnected. I send them letters and letters come back undeliverable."
Nina McCory heads up the body donation program for Western University. One day she found out about the Missing In America Project. A nationwide effort to find the unclaimed remains of forgotten veterans. A project near to her heart.
"My father was killed in Vietnam when I was ten."
Her father John, an Army Ranger, was serving in his third war when he was killed.
"This job gives me the opportunity to talk about my dad every day. When someone is grieving the loss of a loved one they spent 65 years with, I tell them they are blessed. You had them for 65 years and I only had my dad for ten."
Right now the men are anonymous. We only know six served in the Army, three in the Navy. And they'll be joining more than 180,000 veterans. But these are special.
"I think it's interesting they served their country and then served science, so that makes them unique here."
This will be the first internment for the Missing in America Project in Southern California. M.I.A.P estimates there are hundreds of other unclaimed remains. Thousands around the country. But many funeral homes and hospitals have been reluctant to participate citing a fear of lawsuits from family members.
McCory hopes to convince others to follow her lead.
"That they would be comfortable to free these veterans remains."
So that they can have the deserved honors and final disposition.
David Goldstein, CBS 2 News
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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